AMA outlines strategy for health equity

The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a policy to define health equity while outlining a strategy for achieving optimized care in all aspects of health. 

Addressing the current gaps in health and healthcare across America, the AMA aims to develop an organizational home with dedicated servers, staff and budget. The strategic framework, aimed at achieving health equity, presented by the AMA includes:

• Advocating for improved healthcare access, research, and data collection.
• Promoting equity in care.
• Increasing health workforce diversity and cultural awareness/competency.
• Influencing determinants of health.
• Voicing a commitment to health equity.

“We believe all Americans should have access to affordable and meaningful health care,” said AMA Board Member Willarda V. Edwards, MD, MBA. “There are myriad reasons for health disparities and health inequity, including juvenile justice, bias, stereotyping, prejudice and clinical uncertainty, to the fact that chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension disproportionately affect minority populations. We know that overwhelmingly, America’s physician workforce entered the field driven by a desire to help people. By stepping back, cutting through the rhetoric and working collaboratively, we can ensure meaningful access to care for all Americans and improve the health of our nation.”